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Testing and Accountability

California is evolving to a new system of testing and accountability that will weigh eight priorities, including school climate and parent engagement, to judge school progress. An education law, passed in 2013, orders a new generation of computer-based standardized tests, starting with Common Core assessments of English language arts and math in 2015.

Testing and Accountability
September 10, 2021

California will give a short version of its standardized math and English tests next spring

State Board agrees to cut as much as 2 hours from lengthy Smarter Balanced assessments; parents won't receive as many details as in past.

John Fensterwald
Testing and Accountability
July 21, 2021

Tired of the same old student assessments? This fund wants to help

The Advanced Education Research & Development Fund is calling for project proposals on how assessment can be done better.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
May 4, 2021

Hundreds of thousands of California students won’t take statewide standardized tests this spring

California released updated guidance for school districts deciding whether Smarter Balanced or a local assessment is their more viable option.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
May 3, 2021

California state board likely to adopt long-awaited ‘student growth model’ to measure test scores

The new method of tracking individual students' Smarter Balanced scores should provide a more useful measure of schools' and districts' progress.

John Fensterwald
Testing and Accountability
April 8, 2021

Local assessments an option if Smarter Balanced tests ‘not viable,’ U.S. education officials affirm

California state officials have not yet outlined in detail what conditions must exist for a district to select an alternative assessment.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
April 2, 2021

Local assessments an option if statewide tests aren't viable during pandemic, California officials signal

California’s plan would still offer Smarter Balanced assessments in math and English language arts, the California Science Test, as well as tests for English learners.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
March 17, 2021

California could allow school districts to choose their own standardized tests this year

Groups opposing local assessments argue that the results will not be easily or accurately compared on a statewide level.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
February 22, 2021

Schools must give standardized tests this year, Biden administration says

It’s been unclear whether the Biden administration would offer testing waivers as many school districts continue to operate with distance learning.

Sydney Johnson
English Learners
February 10, 2021

California schools struggle to test English learners’ progress during pandemic

The spread of the coronavirus and the digital divide are obstacles for testing students' English skills.

Zaidee Stavely
Distance Learning
February 9, 2021

California teachers grapple with grading nearly a year after initial school closures

Many districts are seeing surges in Fs and Ds during distance learning, prompting a revision of expectations and policies around grades.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
February 8, 2021

New data shines light on student achievement progress — and gaps — in California and US

The data points to a widening achievement gap between white and Black students.

Carolyn Jones
Coronavirus
January 26, 2021

Initial data for California confirm early grades, low-income children hit hardest by ‘learning loss’

A study of 50,000 students from 18 districts reaffirm that those who have traditionally struggled fell farther behind academically.

John Fensterwald
Testing and Accountability
January 14, 2021

California school officials push for standardized testing waiver amid Covid-19 spike

California education officials voted to shorten annual tests in math and reading after federal officials said waivers would not be available in 2021.

Sydney Johnson
College Readiness
January 13, 2021

After dropping SAT and ACT, University of California urged not to add new admissions test

UC is being asked not to create its own test to replace the SAT. Students may instead be able to submit scores from 11th grade state exams.

Michael Burke
Distance Learning
November 30, 2020

Early data on learning loss show big drop in math, but not reading skills

The impact from school closures last spring proved worrisome but not as dire as projected by the assessment organization NWEA.

John Fensterwald